Childish Thinking

Overview

Objectives/Goals In my project, I decided to test whether or not Piaget's theory applies to children. The method I used to test this understanding was to test whether or not children understand the concept of conservation. Piaget's Pre-operational stage extends from the age of 3 to 7. According to Piaget, at age seven, children gain an understanding of conservation. Methods/Materials I observed five four-year-olds, five five-year-olds, five six-year-olds, and five seven-year-olds. I hypothesized that the five-year-old children would have an understanding of conservation. I asked each of these children questions about objects placed in front of them. The #tests# were determined with the five different types of conservation: number, length, volume, mass, and area. Results The children answered incorrectly until the age of seven, and I determined that my hypothesis was incorrect, and that Piaget's stage was correct in determining the level of cognitive development that children have. Conclusions/Discussion This knowledge of the developmental stages is extremely important to parents and educators. They can develop suitable teaching methods and educational programs for children. Answering these simple tests incorrectly is not a sign of less intelligence, but a normal growth phase.

Competition history

• CSEF 2013 Behavioral & Social Sciences · Entry S0401

Resources

• CSEF project summary ↗

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